As we know, Rosh Hashanah corresponds with the New Moon of Libra. And, as my father Rav Berg would always remind us, because of the connection we make together during that time - preparing and setting up our year with all the Light and blessings we will be able to manifest - this really is the most important time of the year.
Every year has its own unique Light and energy, and this year in the Hebrew numbers is the year Taf Shin Ayin Vav, which spell out the word teshuah. Teshuah means “winning,” specifically winning in battle, or “redemption.” This means that out of all the years which have passed, this is the year that has within it the potential to awaken a tremendous amount of what we call Redemption, both our personal redemption, which means the times when we need assistance in our own challenges and difficulties, and global redemption. This is a year when we can take great strides in bringing the world closer to the End of the Correction. And, as most of us remember, this is the real purpose of the study of Kabbalah – to bring an end to pain, suffering, and death.
That’s a very positive message, obviously; we want to bring only goodness to the world. But we cannot forget – and this is what makes our work so difficult – that there’s an opposing force called, in the Zohar, the Sitra Achra, the Other Side, which is balanced just as equally as the positive side. And that force will do everything in its power to stop us from winning this battle.
Therefore, perhaps the most important and fundamental consciousness we want to come back to on this Rosh Hashanah, is, as the Rav would remind us, that we are at war… and war manifests in many different ways. We can’t forget this, that we are at war, because when we do, we cannot possibly win. This is why the Rav called the synagogue, the place where we pray, the War Room. Not because it’s a catchy name, but because the Rav knew that what we are doing with these prayers is going to war. And that is really what we should be doing with all of our spiritual work. The Centre exists to be a place that inspires, awakens, and gives the ability to all of us to battle against the forces of the Negative Side. To battle and fight against the forces that continue to bring death, destruction, and pain into our world.
Therefore, when we talk about teshuah, or the winning of the battle, we have to first come back to the consciousness of battle, which means each of us understands and should be clear on the fact that we do not do whatever spiritual actions of sharing or connection we do just to be a spiritual person, or even to bring more Light into our lives. That is secondary. The main reason we connect, the main reason we’re going to Rosh Hashanah, is to battle against the dark forces of this world that want to maintain the status quo of pain, suffering, and death.
When you have that consciousness, it changes and shifts your entire view of what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, and also clarifies why it can never be easy. Battle is not easy, but the victory – especially this one – is the most important thing we can do with our lives and for this world.
So, in this year of teshuah, in this year of winning, of being victorious over the forces of darkness and separation, the most important message is to re-ignite, re-awaken, and be re-inspired to the clarity that we are in a battle. And to recommit; I do not commit this year to being a spiritual person, I do not commit this year to bringing Light and blessings into my life. My number one priority and commitment is to reignite the consciousness of battle, the consciousness of war. Therefore, everything that I do from this moment on, all the Light and energy I want to draw on Rosh Hashanah is primarily to give me the consciousness, and then the strength, to battle against both my personal, and global, forces of darkness and separation, every single day for this entire year.
When people come to The Centre and you ask them why they are coming, I think many say it’s because they want to become better, they want to change, grow, and be spiritual. But, that’s the wrong message. The only message that students, teachers, and all of us together as a global community on Rosh Hashanah should have is that we are joining the battle.
I ask for myself, and for all of us, that on this Rosh Hashanah, we rejoin the battle. And if we are all able to awaken our consciousness to this battle, and commit all of our work on Rosh Hashanah and throughout the year to be dedicated to this battle, then there will be no question that we will all merit, and the world will merit, through our work, teshuah, winning this battle. Chag Sameach (Happy Holiday).
